Jake Harper
KFC's Nashville Hot Chicken has been promoted by several celebrity Colonels, including Vincent Kartheiser, Norm Macdonald, and Jim Gaffigan. The brand has also used the return of Nashville Hot Chicken to kick off its annual hunger relief campaign, Add Hope®, which helps feed the world through the United Nations World Food Programme.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the actor | Vincent Kartheiser |
| Other actors who have played Colonel Sanders | Norm Macdonald, Jim Gaffigan, Darrell Hammond, Rob Lowe, Dolph Ziggler, Rob Riggle, Billy Zane, Reba McEntire, Christopher Boyer, George Hamilton |
| Description of the actor | Young, lots of hair and flair, vintage good looks, piercing blue eyes |
| Description of the character | Younger, '50s-style heartthrob, rebellious |
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What You'll Learn
The Nashville Hot Colonel is played by Vincent Kartheiser
Vincent Kartheiser, best known for his roles as Pete on AMC's Mad Men and Jordan on Hulu's original series Casual, was chosen for the specialty role of the Nashville Hot Colonel. KFC sought out a young actor with lots of hair and flair, and Kartheiser's vintage good looks and piercing blue eyes made him perfect for the role. In the commercial, Kartheiser's Nashville Colonel croons from an old black-and-white television as girls in cat-eye glasses scream with excitement.
The commercial also features a girl in a '50s-style dress who tries to enjoy her KFC Nashville Hot Chicken Tenders while listening to the Nashville Colonel on vinyl. Her father reacts intensely when he tastes the chicken, running out of the room screaming. This unconventional appearance of the Nashville Colonel on an album cover or TV-within-TV sets the commercial apart.
Over the years, KFC's founder, Harland Sanders, has been portrayed by various celebrities in television commercials and promotions. The brand has featured comedians like Norm Macdonald and Jim Gaffigan, who have brought meta silliness to the role, as well as WWE wrestler Dolph Ziggler and actor Billy Zane, among others. Each celebrity has added their unique twist to the iconic white suit, black tie, and signature facial hair of Colonel Sanders.
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Kartheiser is known for his roles in Mad Men and Casual
The Nashville Hot Colonel in the KFC commercial is played by Vincent Kartheiser, who is known for his roles in Mad Men and Casual. In the ad, Kartheiser's Nashville Colonel croons from an old black-and-white television as girls in cat-eye glasses scream with excitement over the return of KFC's Nashville Hot Chicken.
Kartheiser is an actor with vintage good looks and piercing blue eyes, making him the perfect choice for the specialty role of the Nashville Hot Colonel. His appearance in the commercial is certainly memorable, with an unconventional twist: he shows up on an album cover and as a TV-within-TV character.
In Mad Men, Kartheiser played Pete Campbell, an ambitious young account executive at the fictional Sterling Cooper advertising agency in New York City during the 1960s. His character is known for his complex personality and often finds himself at odds with his colleagues and superiors. Over the course of the series, Pete's character evolves significantly, and Kartheiser's portrayal of his struggles and growth has been widely praised.
In Casual, a Hulu original series, Kartheiser portrays Jordan, a therapist who becomes romantically involved with one of his patients. The show explores themes of family, relationships, and mental health. Kartheiser's performance in Casual has been well-received, with his character's nuanced portrayal adding depth to the story.
Both Mad Men and Casual have allowed Kartheiser to showcase his acting range and talent, and his involvement in the KFC commercial further highlights his versatility. By playing the Nashville Hot Colonel, Kartheiser adds a unique and memorable touch to the campaign, contributing to its popularity.
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KFC's Nashville Hot Chicken was launched in 2016
The commercial itself featured a girl in a '50s-style dress, enjoying her KFC Nashville Hot Chicken Tenders while listening to the Nashville Colonel on vinyl. Her father enters the scene, initially disapproving of her choice of music. However, when he tastes the chicken at his daughter's urging, his reaction is intense, and he runs out of the room screaming, suggesting that the chicken is too spicy for his taste.
The choice of Vincent Kartheiser as the Nashville Colonel was an interesting one, as his portrayal deviated from the typical depiction of Colonel Sanders. Kartheiser's version was more of a '50s heartthrob, and his appearance was unconventional, with his image featured on an album cover and a TV-within-TV concept. This creative approach added a layer of intrigue to the commercial and helped to promote the new Nashville Hot Chicken offering from KFC.
The Nashville Hot Chicken variant was a unique offering from KFC, and the commercial played a crucial role in introducing it to the public. By featuring a younger, more unconventional Colonel Sanders, KFC was able to appeal to a broader audience and create a memorable and entertaining advertisement. The commercial's impact was such that even years after its launch, people still fondly remember the Nashville Hot Chicken and express disappointment when it is unavailable at their local KFC outlets.
While the Nashville Hot Chicken has had its fans, some have expressed disappointment in KFC's decision to remove it from the menu. Some customers have taken to online forums and review sites to express their love for the Nashville Hot Chicken and their frustration when it is unavailable or removed from the menu. This mixed response to the menu item and the rotating cast of celebrities portraying Colonel Sanders showcase the ever-changing nature of the fast-food industry and the challenges of creating a lasting and beloved menu item.
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The ad features a girl in a '50s-style dress
The girl in the '50s-style dress is an important part of the ad's overall aesthetic and tone. Her outfit helps to create a sense of nostalgia and a connection to the past. It also adds to the overall rebellious tone of the ad, with the traditional, vintage outfit being contrasted with the modern setting and the spicy, smoky flavour of the chicken.
The ad's use of a vinyl record player and old-fashioned television further emphasise this blend of old and new. The Nashville Colonel himself, played by Vincent Kartheiser, is also presented as a younger, '50s-style heartthrob, with vintage good looks and piercing blue eyes. This unconventional portrayal of the Colonel, including his appearance on an album cover and TV screen within the ad, adds to the playful and rebellious tone.
The girl's outfit is also a subtle nod to the history of Nashville Hot Chicken. While the exact origins of this dish are debated, it is believed to have been first created in the 1930s or 1940s, with the specific recipe being a closely guarded secret. The '50s-style dress helps to evoke this sense of history and tradition, while also presenting the dish as a timeless classic that is still enjoyed and loved today.
Overall, the inclusion of the girl in the '50s-style dress adds a layer of depth and interest to the ad, helping to create a memorable and distinctive promotional campaign for KFC's Nashville Hot Chicken.
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KFC has featured many celebrity Colonels, including Norm Macdonald, Jim Gaffigan, and Rob Lowe
KFC has featured many celebrity Colonels over the years, including Norm Macdonald, Jim Gaffigan, and Rob Lowe. The brand has also featured several other celebrities, athletes, and actors in the role, including WWE wrestler Dolph Ziggler, Darrell Hammond, Vincent Kartheiser, Billy Zane, Ray Liotta, and Reba McEntire. The role of Colonel Sanders has become a rotating gig, with each celebrity putting their unique spin on the character.
Norm Macdonald, a former SNL cast member, played Colonel Sanders in a self-aware version that poked fun at the campaign. He claimed to be the “real” Colonel Sanders, while the one before him was an "impostor." In one ad, he introduces the Nashville Hot Chicken as smoky, crispy, spicy, and hot. The chicken bursts into flames, but he waves it away, saying it isn't that hot.
Jim Gaffigan, a comedian, continued the meta silliness of KFC's advertising. His character, Colonel Sanders, wakes up from a nightmare where Macdonald's version was his impostor. In another ad, he introduces the Nashville Hot Chicken as smoky and spicy but not flaming hot.
Rob Lowe portrayed Colonel Sanders with an astronaut twist on the classic white suit. Vincent Kartheiser, known for his roles in "Mad Men" and "Casual", played the Nashville Colonel as a younger, '50s-style heartthrob. His appearance was unconventional, showing up on an album cover and TV-within-TV.
KFC has cleverly utilised the iconic image of Colonel Sanders, synonymous with the brand, by featuring multiple celebrities in the role. Each celebrity brings their own unique twist to the character, creating entertaining and memorable advertisements that capture the attention of audiences.
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Frequently asked questions
Vincent Kartheiser, known for his roles in Mad Men and Casual, plays the Nashville Colonel.
Many celebrities have played Colonel Sanders in KFC adverts, including Norm Macdonald, Jim Gaffigan, George Hamilton, Ray Liotta, Reba McEntire, Rob Lowe, and Darrell Hammond.
The commercial features Vincent Kartheiser as the Nashville Colonel on an old black-and-white television, with girls screaming in excitement. The Nashville Hot Chicken is described as smoky, spicy, and hot.
Colonel Harland Sanders founded KFC and patented its fried chicken recipe. He was also the brand ambassador and starred in television commercials to promote the franchise. His iconic look and enduring legacy have made the role of Colonel Sanders in KFC commercials instantly recognisable.
